Ukrainian and German Leaders Respond to Trump's Truce Assertion
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have both publicly acknowledged and welcomed what they term "efforts in favour of a truce" following a claim by former US President Donald Trump. Trump asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a week-long halt on attacks targeting Ukraine's power grid. This development comes as Moscow's strikes have left millions without heating during an extreme cold snap, with temperatures forecast to plummet to as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
Mixed Reactions and Ongoing Condemnation
While expressing gratitude for the potential pause, Chancellor Merz simultaneously issued a strong condemnation of Russia's continued aggression. His spokesperson stated on Thursday that "the systematic and brutal destruction of Ukraine's civilian infrastructure by Russian attacks" remains "still ongoing," a situation Merz denounced "in the strongest terms." President Zelenskyy echoed the cautious optimism, stating he was counting on the United States to help secure the claimed week-long cessation of attacks on Ukraine's critical energy network. He thanked Trump directly and expressed hope that the agreement would be implemented, remarking, "We hope the United States can make this happen."
Civilian Casualties and Infrastructure Damage Continue
Despite the diplomatic discussions surrounding a potential truce, deadly Russian attacks persisted across Ukraine on Thursday. Regional authorities and emergency services reported that six people were killed in central and southern regions. In the Zaporizhzhia region, shelling claimed the lives of a 62-year-old man and two women, aged 26 and 50, while also igniting a major blaze in an apartment building. Firefighters battled significant fires in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where two individuals were injured. Further south, in the Kherson region, a Russian bombardment killed a 46-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman. An attack on the central city of Kryvyi Rig also resulted in the death of one elderly woman.
Trump's Claim and Unconfirmed Ceasefire
The origin of the truce claim stems from a cabinet meeting of Donald Trump's top advisers at the White House. Trump stated, "I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week and he agreed to do that." This proposed short-term ceasefire has not been confirmed by Russian officials. President Zelenskyy, while not immediately verifying the ceasefire was active, noted that the US president had made an "important statement ... about the possibility of providing security for Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities during this extreme winter period."
Technological Countermeasures and International Sanctions
In related developments, Ukraine is collaborating with Elon Musk's SpaceX to prevent Russia from allegedly using the firm's Starlink internet system to guide drones in attacks. Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov expressed gratitude on Telegram to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Elon Musk for their "quick response and the start of work on resolving the situation." SpaceX has not yet commented on the matter. On the international stage, the European Union has taken further action by blacklisting Russia for money laundering risks. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas indicated this move would "slow down and increase the costs of transactions with Russian banks."
As authorities race to restore power services amid the forecasted severe cold, the situation remains precarious, with diplomatic efforts for a pause in hostilities unfolding alongside continued violence and strategic countermeasures.
